Follow-up data for at least 4 years was collected for 675 patients treated for hip fractures in the period 1961--1970. Compared with a series from the same hospital for the years 1948--1957 the number of patients had more than doubled and a higher hospital mortality was encountered, but the 4-year survival rate was unchanged. The mortality after hip fracture was found to be related to the age and sex of the patient and to the nature and number of associated diseases. The mortality rate was found to be high in the first 2 months following the fracture, but patients surviving the second month showed no excess mortality during the following 4 years, having the same life expectancy as the general population.